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Hard Drive with MWSU Student Information Sold at Surplus Auction, Returned by Buyer

By: KQTV
Updated: January 31, 2013
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(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Missouri Western State University is working to get in touch with thousands of students after their names and Social Security numbers accidentally made their way into the wrong hands.

Someone purchased a surplus computer from Missouri Western in December with a hard drive containing the confidential information of students recruited by the university between 2005 and 2009.

The buyer noticed the information on the drive and returned it to Missouri Western on Jan. 9. The buyer has assured the university that the information on the computer was not copied or shared.

Letters will be sent to approximately 3,000 students to notify them about the incident, although Missouri Western does not believe the information was misused in any way.

Hard drives in the surplus computers are usually removed and destroyed before the computers are sold. Missouri Western said the procedure for assuring that happens has been improved to avoid anything like this in the future.

"Missouri Western State University makes every effort to ensure confidential information is secure," said Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration. "We sincerely apologize for this incident. Missouri Western does not believe the information has been misused in any way."

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